What Is A James Beard Chef And Why Are People In Rochester So Excited To Have One

The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit organization based in New York City that promotes "good food for good". Their website explains, "the organization is committed to giving chefs and their colleagues a voice and the tools they need to make the world more sustainable, equitable, and delicious for everyone."

For the last three decades the foundation has been recognizing culinary excellence. A chef winning the James Beard Foundation Award is basically like an actor winning an Oscar. It's a big deal!

Paul Berglund won one of these awards and people are very excited to have him in Rochester. After spending the last several years working at restaurants in the Twin-Cities, Berglund has taken over as the "Culinary and Sustainability Director" at Fiddlehead Coffee Co. according to the Star Tribune.

Paul told the newspaper, "I’m committed to working for the health of the food system in Minnesota. A big part of the job is seeing that Fiddlehead is committed to tackling issues of food access, and sustainability, and connecting with the local agricultural community.”

Wondering why he chose to move to Rochester? He relocated here for the same reason many others have. His future wife works for Mayo Clinic.